Potato farming underpins the livelihoods of millions of smallholder producers in Sub-Saharan Africa, but productivity remains well below its potential. Poor access to and consequent limited use of quality seed is an important factor contributing to low productivity. So far, attempts to develop potato seed systems mirroring the European model have not been successful or only partially. The innovation of hybrid true potato seed (HTPS) has created the opportunity to transform the seed potato sector in Sub-Saharan Africa taking a new, radically different approach. The land requirement for an HTPS-based seed system is lower as fewer generations are needed. Also, it will no longer be necessary to maintain and rapidly multiply plantlets from tissue culture. Availability of early generation seed (EGS) can quickly increase as quality seed can now be produced centrally in large quantities. Subsequently, EGS can be distributed easily to local specialised multipliers circumventing the logistical constrains of transport and storage of the vegetative system. Local multiplication means that seed tubers are grown close to the smallholder's farm; this generates trust between seed supplier and client, which is important in the absence of a functional certification system. It is expected that smallholder potato producers will prefer seed tubers rather than HTPS or seedlings. Of course, HTPS varieties must match the needs of smallholders. Current product portfolios of international breeding companies are not tailored to Sub-Saharan Africa market demands. Short dormancy, late blight resistance and earliness are very important traits in Sub-Saharan Africa, while being (much) less important on the global seed potato market. HTPS (diploid) varieties can be improved faster making breeding for Sub-Saharan African demands feasible. Moreover, seed potato costs are expected to be lower in an HTPS system. Despite these obvious advantages, HTPS will not be an instant success. A last-mile retail system, bringing seed potatoes close to smallholder farms is adamant, and varieties tailored to specific smallholder needs must still be developed and must be affordable. Finally, training of smallholders on good agricultural practices, seed degeneration and the added value of quality seed will take time and resources. This chapter analyses current practices and constraints along the seed value chain and whether HTPS can address these challenges. In this way, it assesses the potential of HTPS to catalyse a transformation of the seed potato sector for the benefit of smallholder producers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
As an emerging innovation, hybrid potato breeding raises high expectations about faster variety development and clean true potato seed as a new source of planting material. Hybrid breeding could, therefore, substantially contribute to global food security and other major sustainable development goals. However, its success will not only depend on the performance of hybrid potato in the field, but also on a range of complex and dynamic system conditions. This article is based on a multidisciplinary project in which we have studied the innovation dynamics of hybrid potato breeding and explored how these dynamics may shape the future of hybrid potato. Inspired by the approach of responsible innovation, we closely involved key players in the Dutch and international potato sector and other relevant actors in thinking about these potato futures. An important and recurrent theme in our work is the tension between the predominant commercial innovation dynamics in plant breeding and promises to respond to the global challenges of food security, agrobiodiversity and climate change. In this article, we, therefore, discuss responsible innovation strategies in (hybrid) potato breeding, which may help to bridge this tension and finally reflect on the implications for the field of plant breeding in general.
Hybrid true potato seed (HTPS) technology has potential to strengthen the smallholder potato sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. For its successful introduction, stakeholders will need to realise promises of the innovation and overcome barriers to adoption. Both promises and barriers can be analysed looking at the seed, farm, and market system. Efforts of two pairs of Dutch vegetable seed companies, East-West Seed and Rijk Zwaan introducing improved tomato varieties in Tanzania, and De Groot & Slot and Bejo introducing true-seed shallots in Indonesia, offer lessons learned when developing a strategy for HTPS in Sub-Saharan Africa. The SEVIA project in Tanzania (2013-2020) demonstrated that main barriers to adoption of tomato varieties were posed by the seed and farm system. The investment in seed of improved crop varieties was worthwhile, only if tomato farmers improved their full-field production practices, and prior nursery care. There were no barriers regarding the market system, but there were also no incentives for adoption: tomato is mostly a commodity in Tanzania and there is no diversified market. The 'True Seed Shallot demonstration project' in Indonesia (2018-2020) sought to introduce true shallot seed (TSS) varieties requiring a transformation of the seed, farm, and market system. The companies decided to promote TSS outside traditional shallot production areas where the potential positive impact of their innovation was larger. Vegetable farmers, familiar with seedlings while unfamiliar with shallots, were trained in shallot production from seed. Adoption of HTPS will, like improved shallot and tomato varieties, require transformations of the seed, farm, and market systems. The two cases show that investments in seed system development are essential. Widespread outreach efforts are needed to demonstrate the promise of an innovation. Moreover, capacity building is then required to enable farmers to realise the potential of an improved variety themselves. Without additional skills, adoption of an innovation is often not economical. In summary, farmers need to be familiarised with the technology and recognise its profitability. Subsequently,
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